Enfield Town made it back-to-back victories with a clinical 3-1 win over Brentwood Town, punishing the Blues at key moments to secure all three points at The Arena.
Brentwood started brightly and created some promising openings, but a Sam Youngs penalty gave the visitors the lead before an unfortunate own goal doubled their advantage. Bradley Sach’s penalty just before the interval gave the Blues hope, but Wyan Reid’s second-half dismissal made the task considerably tougher. There were a number of debuts and first starts for Brentwood, with Tommy Davis making his first appearance alongside Malachi Linton, while new signings Aaron Sterling and Daniel Ajakaiye began on the bench. Wyan Reid and Freddie Sears also came into the side to make their first starts of the season.
It was a bright start from both sides, with both teams playing some good football and creating half-chances without really troubling either goalkeeper in the opening exchanges.
Just when Brentwood looked to be getting on top and appeared the more likely side to open the scoring, Enfield broke upfield from a Blues attack and were awarded a penalty. Wyan Reid was judged to have dragged down Thomas Avgoustidis inside the area. Had Reid not made the challenge, the Enfield winger would have had a simple tap-in from Luke May-Parrott’s low cross. Reid was shown a yellow card for the foul.
Sam Youngs stepped up from the spot and made no mistake, sending Aiden Prall the wrong way to put the visitors ahead after 24 minutes.
Despite the Blues’ promising start, the goal appeared to knock some of the momentum out of Brentwood, with Enfield beginning to take control of the game.
Avgoustidis and May-Parrott both tested Prall, with the Brentwood goalkeeper producing smart saves to keep the deficit at one.
Manny Harvest then fashioned Brentwood’s best opportunity since falling behind, driving into the box before drilling an effort towards goal which rippled into the side netting.
But Enfield continued to look dangerous and doubled their advantage. A quick throw-in caught the Blues napping, allowing Enfield captain Mickey Parcell to drive into the box unchallenged. He picked out a low cross towards the waiting attackers, with Andy Freeman unfortunately turning the ball into his own net, knowing he had to get something on the ball with an Enfield attacker immediately behind him, but could only divert it into his own goal.
Suddenly, Brentwood found themselves with a mountain to climb. A 1-0 deficit at half-time would have been difficult enough, but 2-0 left the Blues needing a response before the interval. Fortunately, they were handed a lifeline.
Franklin Domi caught Malachi Linton inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot for the second penalty of the afternoon. Bradley Sach took responsibility and calmly slotted the ball home, sending Dylan Thompson the wrong way to reduce the deficit and give the Blues something to build on in the second half.
At the break, Keith Rowland made his first change, handing Daniel Ajakaiye his Brentwood debut in place of Mikey Berry.
The second half began in frantic fashion, with neither side truly able to establish control. Sach came close to levelling just two minutes after the restart, only to see his effort denied by Thompson, before May-Parrott and Youngs both tested Prall at the other end. The Brentwood goalkeeper was having to work hard to keep the Blues in the game.
Enfield then appealed for another penalty after Prall slid in to take the ball away from Billy Leonard inside the area. There were huge appeals from the visitors, but the referee waved them away. And all of that came within the opening five minutes of the half.
Moments later, Brentwood’s task became considerably more difficult as they were reduced to ten men. Reid received a second yellow card after a late challenge saw him clip the boots of Leonard, leaving the referee with little option but to dismiss the Blues defender.
From that point, Enfield were able to take greater control of the game. The visitors passed the ball well, remained patient in possession and looked to find the opening for the killer third goal. Prall was increasingly called upon to deny Enfield as they continued to probe and create opportunities, while Brentwood had to work hard defensively to keep themselves within touching distance.
Rowland turned to his bench and introduced Aaron Sterling for his second Blues debut following his permanent move to the club, alongside Nat Mardell.
Despite being down to ten, opportunities did come for Brentwood. Ajakaiye and Sterling both found themselves through on goal following promising moves, but neither could get their shots away before the Enfield defence threw themselves in the way to deny the Blues.
With the game entering the final ten minutes of normal time, however, Enfield finally found the killer third. Substitute Amrit Bansal-McNulty exchanged a clever one-two with Youngs before bearing down on goal and firing a superb finish into the top corner to put the visitors firmly in control.
For Enfield, it was a third win from their opening four games. For Brentwood, it is a third consecutive defeat, but Keith Rowland’s side have been in difficult spells before and will now have to dust themselves down and go again.
The Blues return to action next weekend against Carshalton Athletic, who have made a perfect start to the campaign with four wins from four.
BRENTWOOD TOWN: Prall (GK), Reid, Davis, Gibbs (C), Hudson, Freeman (Adams 77′), Harvest, Linton (Sterling 66′), Sears (Read 54′), Berry (Ajakaiye 46′), Sach (Mardell 66′)
Subs not used: N/A
ENFIELD TOWN: D. Thompson (GK), Domi (Akubuine 65′), A. Thompson, Mensah, Youngs, May-Parrott (Bansal-McNulty 65′), Leonard, Rydings (Corrigan 83′), Avgoustidis, Parcell (Velasquez 83′), Remy (Kyei 75′)
Subs not used: N/A
